Gov. Jay Inslee is directing the state Department of Ecology to develop a cap on greenhouse-gas emissions. But he opted against pursuing a low-carbon fuel standard that would have jeopardized mass-transit funding.

Gov. Jay Inslee is directing the state Department of Ecology to develop a cap on greenhouse-gas emissions. But he opted against pursuing a low-carbon fuel standard that would have jeopardized mass-transit funding.

We detect a troubling development in Washington state politics. Call it the rise of extortion politics – as in, give me what I want or I’ll really hurt you. First case in point is professional initiative promoter Tim Eyman. He’s back this year with hardball tactics on a tax-restricting proposal, Initiative 1366. Similarly, Senate Republicans put a ‘poison pill’ in the new transportation tax package to block certain executive actions on climate change.

We detect a troubling development in Washington state politics. Call it the rise of extortion politics – as in, give me what I want or I’ll really hurt you. First case in point is professional initiative promoter Tim Eyman. He’s back this year with hardball tactics on a tax-restricting proposal, Initiative 1366. Similarly, Senate Republicans put a ‘poison pill’ in the new transportation tax package to block certain executive actions on climate change.